Mudblood Baiting

It was finally lunchtime and after a delicious meal in the Great Hall, Carina and her Slytherin gang of girls went into the busy courtyard and sat in a shadowy alcove. Georgina Graham and Neglectica Howes had been her closest friends since first year for they had many things in common.

“My patronus is still crap and I know it’ll come up in the exam.” Whined Georgina, they had just had an unsuccessful Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson in which they were required to perform the advanced charm.

Carina had been the only one who had produced something half decent for it was the whole ‘find a strong happy memory’ part which had been the hardest. That being the case, she had managed to form a winged creature which resembled a bat, but she couldn’t be sure for it might’ve been a small bird.

Before she could answer, a small group of first years came babbling past. Seizing the opportunity for some fun, Carina cast a silent charm and the young girl tripped over sending the books she held flying. Repressing the giggle, she went to help the girl as a seemingly caring student when in fact it gave her the opportunity to question her.

“You ok?” The girl simply nodded her head, “what’s your name?” The girl was in Ravenclaw colours but still could be a pureblood and so she held off further ridicule.

“Uh Lucy Watson.” She stammered.

“Watson... I haven’t heard of that name? You’re parents were magical right?” She asked like they had to be.

Shaking her head, the girl answered, “no they were muggles.”

Rolling her eyes, Carina shook her head softly, mudbloods were getting more and more common and it dismayed her. “Did you hear that girls? Another mudblood in Hogwarts!” She called over loudy.

Lily shifted her bag into a more comfortable position on her shoulder as she made her ways down the stairs into the courtyard. Her classmate Carissa Hedges was chatting away about her latest romance. Lily wasn’t really listening; she struggled to keep track of Carissa’s love life and today she was less than interested. Picking a spot in the autumn sunshine, she sat down on the wall and scanned the buzzing lunch crowd that was fast forming around them.

She spied Carina Burke and her two tag alongs sitting out of the way and her eyes narrowed. “Lily!” Carissa said sharply. “Hmm?” Lily replied not looking round, she was too busy watching Carina ‘help’ a first year up to her feet. “What has gotten into you today, you’ve barely heard a word I’ve said.”

“Dunno.” Lily replied flatly, she could sense trouble brewing and the Potter in her blood was itching to go and get involved. “But something I do know is Burke is up to something.” No sooner had the words left her mouth than did Carina’s ‘Mudblood’ comment rang loudly in her ear. She rose smoothly to her feet and crossed the courtyard. “Leave it Lily.” She heard Carissa call but she ignored it.

“Does it make you feel big picking on someone four years younger than you Burke?” she said as she approached, her hand sliding into her pocket to wrap around her wand, just in case of course. “Or do you do it just because you know you wouldn’t last a minute if you picked on someone your own age?”

The courtyard during the day was a great place to be. Vibrant and buzzing with the chatter of students in between classes was something to behold. Hugo loved it out there. He was in his element when there were lots of people. Well, lots of people that weren’t necessarily looking at him. He took in a deep breath of the cool September air; it was crisp and smelt faintly of honeysuckle. The smell instantly transported him back to the Burrow, the house where he had spent the majority of his summers with his Gran and Gramps.

Rubbing his finger under the strap of his heavily book-laden bag he made his way across the courtyard with his Charms textbook open in hand. Reading up on the Draconifors charm as he walked he had been told countless by professors times that he looked like his mother when she used to do that.

The short break between classes was nearing to an end and students were milling around or heading off slowly towards their next classrooms. Glancing up from his book he noticed a few sixth year girls in a corner and a seventh year boy and girl secluded together on a bench. They were lucky to have free periods. He, on the other hand, was headed for his Herbology class. Though Hugo enjoyed the class his grades were not good in it and he only continued it at NEWT level for his Auror training. He would just have to endure the class and study more. That’s what his mother would tell him do.

Reaching the other side of the courtyard he saw a sixth year Slytherin girl helping a first year and instantly he knew something was fishy. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted his cousin, Lily and he knew she was thinking the same as him. Turning back to the Slytherins he knew that they never helped anyone without a hidden agenda. Slowing down as he walked passed he listened to the conversation, it seemed normal. Well, normal until she shouted back to her friends. A leopard can never change its spots! He instantly thought shaking his head. Lily hit the nail right on the head. Slytherins were just a bunch of cowards, who picked on the weak and innocent due to their own misfortunes.

Piping up, he added, “I just think she has a problem with Mudbloods, Lil, and here we were thinking that attitude had died when Voldemort was killed,” He said stepping forward. “If you’ve got a problem about a Mudblood, Burke, come and say to someone who isn’t afraid to hex your face into oblivion.”

Carina eyed Lily with an icy stare when she came waltzing on the scene which had nothing to do with her. What was it with them needing to play the hero like their parents? Even they were too stupid to realise that Lord Voldemort would’ve changed the Wizarding World for good thus proving stupidity really was genetic.

In reply to Lily’s half arsed insult, Carina laughed as her two friends came to her aid. “It has nothing to do with skill Potter,” she rolled her eyes, “just because your father lucked his way to being hero, doesn’t mean should follow his footsteps. You won’t be so lucky.”

Much to Carina’s annoyance another redheaded Weasley descendant joined them with his arrogant way. “It’s not mudbloods I have a problem with,” she answered as she approached him, “it’s the fact that they’re allowed into an ancient Wizarding institution having no prior knowledge of it.”

All three Slytherin girls knew where this was going. The Gryffindors with their ‘holier than thou’ attitude weren’t going to give this up until they felt like they had made some liberal, social point all because it was current the status quo. Pathetic. Carina reached inside her cloak and pulled out her wand and glared into Lily’s eyes, she started this, she could end this.

“You think I can’t take on someone my own age do you? Come on then little girl, let’s see if the great Harry Potter who couldn’t even perform a killing curse passed anything on to his daughter.” Her voice was low and menacing, “Neglectica, you’re my second.” She snapped.